Abstract

The result in the Rochester and Strood by-election makes clear that many are looking to Westminster and venting
their dissatisfaction with what they perceive to be a distant, unresponsive and dishonest political class. The anger
underpinning UKIP support is a product of the particular performance of the governing and opposition parties’ in
the current economic climate as well as the perceived failings with mainstream politics more generally, argue
Nicholas Allen and Sarah Birch.